Hickman gets back in the win column

Saturday

Friday, the Kewpies (2-6) earned their first home victory of the season and their first win since their season opener.

Behind 178 rushing yards and two touchdowns from senior running back Christian Davis, the Kewpies utilized a second-half surge to knock off Truman, 21-0, on their senior night at Bob Lemone Field.

Hickman controlled the game on the ground, using multiple formations and directions to rack up 269 total rushing yards, 172 of which came in the second half alone.

This was coupled with a stellar performance from the Kewpie defense, who held Truman under 100 yards rushing and recorded a shutout for the first time in 2018. The victory also clinched Hickman’s first multi-win season since 2013.

“We’ve been working (for a win) and have been close for the past few weeks, so for this to finally come for us is huge,” coach Cedric Alvis said after the game. “Those guys deserve it. All the hard work that they’ve put into it, it’s a great feeling for them.”

Looking for a victory since the season-opener at Pattonville decided by a late field goal, Hickman came into the matchup with the Patriots having not won on senior night since 2014. In addition, Alvis was looking for his maiden home win in his first season at the helm.

But it was not all smooth sailing. The Kewpies entered the Truman red zone twice in the first half and came away with no points, as the closest they came to scoring in the first two quarters was from a missed field goal.

Good field position to start the second half helped Hickman drive again into the red zone, which eventually led to its first score of the game. But the first Kewpie touchdown did not come from where most followers of the team would expect.

Instead of Davis or another running back taking the credit, wide receiver Lamarco Carter caught his first touchdown reception of the season in his final home game, having leapt in the end zone to catch a pass that grazed over the fingers of a Truman defender.

It was a special moment for Carter, who was in his second game back since suffering a knee injury in week two.

“I ain’t gonna lie to you, I almost pooped myself. I thought that thing was picked,” Alvis said with a laugh when talking about the Carter’s touchdown grab. “For him to make that acrobatic catch, that’s amazing for him. For him to be gone since week two, it’s even better for him.”

From that point forward, the Hickman offense became the Christian Davis show. The running back scored both of his touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and had a potential punt return score taken back for a penalty.

He and the Hickman defense were pivotal in helping to swing momentum the Kewpies’ way. Hickman held Truman scoreless after the Patriots drove as far as the Kewpie 4-yard line, and Davis ran in for a 20-yard touchdown on fourth down on the ensuing drive to make the game a two-score difference.

“I feel amazing, man,” an ecstatic Davis said. “We needed this. The team came together and believed and fought, and we came out in the second half and scored 21 points. It can’t get any better than this.”

Alvis was just as energetic as his players about the victory; he could often be seen chest-bumping and high-fiving players on the sideline after big plays. But he also noted that all in all, it’s his job to keep the victory in perspective for his team.

“I told them at the beginning, ‘There’s no place like home,’” Alvis said. “Hopefully this is the start of something, and we can work to becoming undefeated at home.”

Hickman closes the regular season at 7 p.m. Friday in a road matchup at Oak Park.